Thailand's roads: Why are they so dangerous?

[smurph]

Wasn't sure which forum the best to share this on, but thought worth sharing with the community. A good rundown of why Thailand's roads are so dangerous. Wouldn't agree with all of the author's proposed solutions, but there are some ideas in there I hadn't come across before. Anyway, worth a read... http://asiancorrespondent.com/131679/thailand-road-deaths/

[Sandman77]

Because all think the are Bruce Willis himself , no fear on anything , when you drive to slowly, you loose your face not forget!

And real Heros on road never die, this why road here so dangerous!

[HeijoshinCool]

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You should have posted this in General.

(DELETED)

Edited March 30, 2015 by seedy
politics

[seedy]

One Post Edited -

5) You will not use Thaivisa as a platform to gather support to effect changes on religious, political, or
governmental issues

[cumgranosalum]

The author of the article has essentially missed the point....he/she thinks that by concentrating mainly on statistics a conclusion can be reached - and does this purely on their own observations - the whole thing is misleading - whereas drink-driving is obviously an issue seeing it as the single be-all and end-all is simply wrong. There is a clue in the OP question - i.e "Thailand's roads" - here is a significant contribution to the appalling death rates.

Road safety relies on proper use of the 5 Es.

1 Education

2 Enforcement

3 Engineering

4 Emergency

5 Evaluation

Unless ALL these are addressed there can be no significant change in the situation on Thai roads.

The road safety bodies of Thailand are well aware of this - unfortunately the relevant authorities seem unmotivated to act on them.

Many people seem to think that Thailand is inherently a nation of bad drivers - apart from being a racist argument it is of course nonsense. Drivers worldwide are idiots, it is how a nation handles this idiocy that makes all the difference.

Something to think about - UK is constantly in the top five in the world for safe roads - by ay set of stats you like to use.....and Thailand is constantly in the worlds top five worst.

Yet both countries have about the same number of RTCs - road traffic collisions - . So this would indicate that it is not just the nature of the driving but how it is controlled and how people are treated during and after an RTC

Edited March 30, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[cumgranosalum]

For those who aren't sure what the 5 Es are........

1. Education

This is fairly self-explanatory - people need to be told/shown how to drive and given the “tools” to share the road with other users - UK had several government TV campaigns in the 60s and 70s. Clever well thought out ads with a bit of humour that weren’t condescending and helped to establish the country as a safe place to drive. (Do you remember the elephant in the fog?).

The first people to educate in Thailand would be the police.

2. Enforcement

Again self-explanatory - but Thailand has the added problem of ingrained corruption, graft and bribery which impedes this no matter how many laws are passed. The laws need to be reasonable applicable and equitably enforced too.

3. Engineering: - most critics of (Thai) road safety usually ignore this aspect of road safety.

Vehicle engineering - Safer car design and engineering: - car safety is both “passive” (seat belts, airbags and construction etc.) and “Active” (braking steering, handling, traction control etc.) these two are really interdependent now with so much computerised and hi-tech features on modern vehicles.

· Anti-locking brakes

· Traction control

· Air-bags

· Side impact bars

· AVCSS

· More reliable engine, tyres and components

· Vehicle dynamics in general (vary from UK and Thailand)

Of course roadworthiness checks are vital - but totally unenforced in Thailand.

Road Engineering -

The design and construction on the roads, bridges, junction, road surface, camber, drainage etc.

· The use of barriers (e.g. Armco), the removal of roadside hazards - e.g. trees or boulders on the side and centre of roads. The clearing of billboards and vegetation that obscure drivers’ vision

· Traffic - the use of lines, signs, bollards etc. etc. to dictate how and where the traffic flows and at what speed - virtually non-excitant in Thailand and seldom noticed by drivers in countries that make good use of it.

· The use of barriers (e.g. Armco), the removal of trees from the side and centre of roads. The clearing of billboards and vegetation that obscure drivers’ vision.

· Better infrastructure and engineering

· Better road surfaces

· Better signage

· More forgiving

· Traffic calming

· Shared space - keeping various road users apart is key to safety in some situations - if they are separated they can’t collide.

Like so many things on the roads in Thailand, the only reason that U-Turns happen is because the roads ALLOW it.... this is an engineering problem (and cost), not so much a driver problem.

4. Emergency

- What happens in the event of injury... this is a major factor in who lives or dies.

It has been well documented that the time between accident and getting treatment is crucial in the survival of RTI victims.

Treatment on the scene and reducing the time it takes to get the patient to hospital is vital. Thailand still has NO EFECTIVE UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY SERVICE!!

5. Evaluation

- How do we ascertain if measures are effective and what new ideas can be implemented.

Most governments have agencies of some sort that after engaging any road scheme, whether it is construction or a safety campaign, review in detail every aspect of that project; effects on local population, environment, accident statistics etc. etc. Statistics are gathered and monitored and appropriate action taken. - Whereas Thailand may nominally have such bodies their effectiveness is just about zero. Road safety in Thailand is left largely to ill-thought out, baseless pronouncements made by members of the government with little better to do.

Edited March 30, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[cooked]

'Doing something' appears to be about punishing people that get caught. I have no idea where all the money goes that is supposed to be invested in road safety campaigns periodically.

Try googling 'Thai road safety video' in any language, you won't find much. If you think about stuff like insurance, vehicle maintenance and so on, you are provoking fate into punishing you.

Buy an amulet and you'll be ok. Take school kids around hospitals to see what happens if you don't wear a helmet? Refuse entrance to schools to kids that don't wear a helmet?

You have to love it, don't you?

[redandyellow]

Okay, I'll put my 3 satang in..

With supreme caution and cultural knowledge, driving in Thailand can be a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Driving in Thailand can also be a horrible nightmare. Usually it's somewhere in the middle of the two extremes - something akin to carefully navigating a vehicle through a three ring circus, with clowns of all manner. They drive on motorcycles, in trucks, buses, mini vans, songthaews and cars, along with some responsible defensive drivers - on Thailand's congested, intrinsically dangerous roads.

Excessive speed usually plays a large role in fatal roadway accidents - not simply road conditions as the police asserted in this tragedy. Anyone who drives in Thailand knows that drivers constantly drive too fast - and too close to the driver ahead of them. Period, end of story really. Tailgating and speeding is the norm in Thailand; it's almost embedded in the DNA of Thai drivers.

Let's compare driver training times in Thailand with say Canada. In Thailand, it takes two days or less to get a driver's license. In Canada it takes three years, or about 1,093 more days than in Thailand. In Thailand, you're required (starting in 2015) to take a one day training course, a written test and a driver's test, lasting about ten minutes. There's no instructor in the car with the new driver, as in Canada. They simply observe the student maneuvering in a parking lot. Then you're good to go. One of my relatives in Phuket failed the test three times, then paid the instructor to get a pass. This happens all the time. He recently was involved in a near fatal collision. Driving home intoxicated from a soccer game in Phuket, he crossed the median and hit a power pole on the other side of the road. There was no talk in the large family about drinking and driving, but there certainly was a family trip to Wat Chalong, to thank Buddha that the relative survived the self-inflicted, near-fatal collision. In Canada, a beginning driver has to pass a test, then they are required to drive with an experienced driver for one year. After one year they have another written and road test. If they pass that, they are a New Driver for the next two years. After three years, they take another written and practical test. Only then are they given full status as a driver.The Thai system takes two days, or alternately, you can just pay for the license. The Canadian system takes three years, with a total of three written and two practical tests. In addition, new drivers aren't allowed to drive by themselves for one year.

It's no bloody accident that Thailand has the second most dangerous roadways on the planet, and the most dangerous roadways in the world for motorcycles. In Thailand, extremely lax driver- training standards are just the tip of the proverbial foreigner fatality factor ice-burg. Tailgating and speeding cause more deaths than anything else - including road conditions. The Royal Thai traffic police normally attribute fatal roadway accidents to road conditions by default, as opposed to what really causes most fatal roadway accidents in Thailand - dangerous and careless driving. Attributing most accidents to road conditions as opposed to chronic driver error speaks volumes to the systemic driving culture in Thailand - a very dangerous one indeed. The lack of attention to reality (willful or otherwise) adds another sordid layer onto the complex problem of excessive roadway fatalities in Thailand.

To be clear - there are many good drivers in Thailand, along with hordes of highly dangerous, unpredictable ones. Many drivers lack basic driving skills, basic knowledge and courtesy. They frequently ignore road signs, traffic lights, speed limits and the police. They drive recklessly, in the wrong direction, run red lights, and often possess no driver's license. They take little heed of precautionary safety measures. The name of the game on Thai roads for foreigners is survivability, through caution, defensive driving and adaptation.

Deadly driving sins on Thai roads include small children not strapped down in car seats, distracted drivers texting and using mobile devices, all while swerving dangerously in and out of traffic, driving in the wrong lane, multi-tasking, overtaking and accelerating on dangerous curves (this is a very chronic issue) and turning without signaling. Besides dangerous drivers, the country has a very heavy volume of traffic on roadways and in cities. In addition, roadways are frequently poorly marked and maintained. Some time ago for safety reasons, the Thai government was considering a major change. Roadway driving would shift from left-hand to right- hand driving. Many people said it wouldn't change things much, because Thai people are already constantly driving on the wrong side of the road.

Caveat: This is 100% my own writing, not that it's good. I live in Canada, but spend 4 months a year in Thailand, have a plain Jane Silver Toyota Hilux Pickup in Phuket (don't we all?), and have driven around most of the country, save for the deep south. Last year I drove from Phuket to Chiang Rai, on to Pai, and back. I saw 8 car accidents and 8 dead dogs before I stopped counting, about half way from Phuket to Bangkok, LOL.

Signed,

Keep your Bloody Head on a Swivel (or it's Check) MATE

Edited March 30, 2015 by seedy
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[redandyellow]

A few years ago on a highway near Krabi, a motorcycle passed us at a high rate of speed. As the motorcycle rocketed by our truck - the driver was screaming at no one in particular. Helmetless, shoeless, shirtless, his long hair flew like the black flag of doom. My pickup was going about 80 kph - he was going approximately a hundred and twenty kph.

As he zoomed by me on the right he suddenly swerved left - right behind a large transport truck. It looked like the driver was headed straight into the transport truck on purpose, like the truck wasn't there at all. As the motorcycle approached the rear of the transport it wobbled back and forth about ten times - describing an increasingly out- of- control, wider arc for each wobble. I watched in horror as the motorcycle hit the truck travelling about ninety kilometers an hour - the truck was going about sixty kph.

There appeared to be zero attempt on the part of the motorcycle driver to avoid hitting the truck. Upon impact - the driver flew about ten meters into the oncoming lane. Thank God no cars were approaching at that precise moment; that was the first miracle. The motorcycle tumbled over three times, missing the driver by inches. I thought for sure he'd be killed on the initial impact. Flying through the air he landed hard - then bounced about a foot onto the air. He picked himself off the ground and limped-ran off the roadway.

This all happened in about ten seconds. Passing the scene I looked in the rear-view mirror. The crumpled blue motorcycle came to a skidding halt - the front tire straight up, spinning off-center in protest. I couldn't believe my eyes when he got up and ran off the road. One moment you're about to stop at a fatality, the next second the guy's gone. He must have been in agony later - he would have sustained severe road rash, bruising and pain - once the effects of drugs, alcohol and adrenaline subsided. High as a kite or not, he acted like a one-off superhuman.

The huge adrenaline rush probably saved his life. To witness someone do a stunt like that and get away alive relatively unscathed - is testimony to the improbability of life itself. While he escaped getting the Darwin award by an eyelash in Thailand, many tourists drive much more dangerously than back home - if they drove a motorbike at all. These foreigners are in effect playing Russian Roulette.

Edited March 30, 2015 by seedy
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[redandyellow]

Thai authorities play with fatality statistics. They don't count people who die in the ambulance or the hospital, only the ones who actually die on the road - so if you count properly, Thailand would be number one in the world for road fatalities, if they used WHO standards.

and that's the truth

Edited March 30, 2015 by seedy
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[cooked]

Said it before, saying it again. There aren't more dangerous drivers in Thailand than in other countries, there are more dangerous drivers that are allowed to drive.

[redandyellow]

Many drivers in Thailand have developed a sense of roadway entitlement, as they expect other road users to defer to them, and smaller vehicles to give way. Motorcycles sometimes don't give way, and the results are horrifyingly predictable. As so few people seem to be learning hard lessons from excessive roadway fatalities - history is repeating itself. If you are in Thailand anytime soon, you will observe that about half of the motorcycle drivers would not be wearing safety helmets. Many baskets on motorbikes would contain a helmet, however. Life is all about choices and their concomitant consequences. A high percentage of catastrophic motorcycle accidents occur in the wee hours of the morning. Excessive speeds, reckless attitudes, a lack of safety headgear and alcohol are the main fatality factors - time after time. To survive a trip to Thailand, foreign drivers should understand Thai roadway culture, drive defensively and keep their guard up 100 % of the time.

On Thai roadways there's a potential danger lurking around every corner. Those who are prone to high-risk behavior form the bulk of fatalities on roadways. This fact is borne out time and again by numerous grim fatality reports - of foreigners and Thai nationals alike.

It seems that certain officials in Thailand are paid big money to turn a blind eye to roadway safety concerns. In Thailand there's a saying, "don't interfere with someone else's rice pot." Almost every Thai official tops up their salary with their own "rice pot." As a result, roadway safety issues are left on the backburner, or left unaddressed. The result is an unacceptably high number of foreigners and Thai nationals dying on Thai roadways, the majority involving motorcycles. The problem is, no one knows how many - and if they do, they aren't talking.

It also seems that life is of little value here in Thailand. I always wonder why so many drivers seem to value their life on a very low level. Considering there's next to no social security here in Thailand - one would assume they would at least worry about their families. Without them earning money and supporting the household income, the whole family might get into serious trouble. This whole issue is quite clearly a case for proper law enforcement on traffic regulations.

Edited March 30, 2015 by seedy
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[WitawatWatawit]

You can have all the above in buckets, but you first have to overcome one very important problem: the sense of self-entitlement. As witnessed during the Yingluck govt's rebate frenzy (sorry, not being political, just topical), a million cars were added to the roads and tens of thousands of new drivers suddenly appeared. As witnessed with a neighbor, the attitude was, "I can afford a car, therefore I am a driver. You can't stop me."

And then there is arrogance ... oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. That wretched bloody arrogance. Once again, none of the above matters a jot just as long as Thai drivers (who have a refined sense of arrogance when behind the wheel) refuse point blank to accept responsibility for their actions. It's not just their refusal to accept the rules of the road, but their refusal to believe that they need to LEARN the rules of the road, or indeed that there should be any rules of the road that apply to them, or accept that there is a generally accepted culture of driving that starts and ends with SAFETY (by that I mean generally accepted on a community-wide basis, a community mindset).

[redandyellow]

I have written tons on this subject, but will defer to others now: Slow Thai drivers sometimes create deadly road conditions by forcing other drivers to pass them on the left. Unlike many western drivers, most Thai drivers don't strive to be considerate to others. It's part of the Thai makeup of being "klaeng jai" (reluctant to impose upon, respectful of other's privacy and space).

There's no word in English that corresponds to "klaeng jai." Thais ignore others on the road in a general attitude to avoid confrontation. It all comes down to face. Thai drivers aren't courteous drivers, simply because it never occurs to them to be courteous on the road. In Thailand, it's every driver for themselves. Judging by fatality statistics, this paradigm is fatally flawed.

In a potential driving confrontation, Thais will do their best to ignore one another. This is because there's a big risk of losing face in a confrontation. If a Thai driver loses face - there's a probability of a bloody confrontation. Thus, it's avoided as much as possible. If this means appearing inconsiderate, so be it.

In practical terms, when Thais ignore other drivers - it means they don't stop to let pedestrians cross the road in a crossing lane. They don't make it easy for another driver wanting to change lanes. To the westerner the Thai driver appears aggressive, but in reality it's often simply a lack of consideration.

Thais mainly ignore other drivers to avoid confrontation - as they focus solely on their immediate driving needs. Most Thais started out driving a motorcycle - and they didn't worry about blocking traffic or being nice to other drivers. Large trucks are frequently over- loaded to the hilt. Many trucks are underpowered; it causes large backups on two lane roadways. Most trucks stick to a maximum speed of 80 kph. Many truck drivers do pull over to the side to let vehicles pass; a quick toot of the horn lets them know their gesture was appreciated.

In Thailand, truck maintenance is generally poor. Many trucking companies pay off authorities to turn a blind eye. Run-away truck tires can pose a deadly hazard.

Edited March 30, 2015 by seedy
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[cumgranosalum]

there seems to be a belief that if you describe driving in Thailand or a personal anecdote that it in some way sums up why road deaths are so high in Thailand....remember the plural of anecdote is not data.

[cumgranosalum]

I have written tons on this subject, but will defer to others now: Slow Thai drivers sometimes create deadly road conditions by forcing other drivers to pass them on the left. Unlike many western drivers, most Thai drivers don't strive to be considerate to others. It's part of the Thai makeup of being "klaeng jai" (reluctant to impose upon, respectful of other's privacy and space).

There's no word in English that corresponds to "klaeng jai." Thais ignore others on the road in a general attitude to avoid confrontation. It all comes down to face. Thai drivers aren't courteous drivers, simply because it never occurs to them to be courteous on the road. In Thailand, it's every driver for themselves. Judging by fatality statistics, this paradigm is fatally flawed.

In a potential driving confrontation, Thais will do their best to ignore one another. This is because there's a big risk of losing face in a confrontation. If a Thai driver loses face - there's a probability of a bloody confrontation. Thus, it's avoided as much as possible. If this means appearing inconsiderate, so be it.

In practical terms, when Thais ignore other drivers - it means they don't stop to let pedestrians cross the road in a crossing lane. They don't make it easy for another driver wanting to change lanes. To the westerner the Thai driver appears aggressive, but in reality it's often simply a lack of consideration.

Thais mainly ignore other drivers to avoid confrontation - as they focus solely on their immediate driving needs. Most Thais started out driving a motorcycle - and they didn't worry about blocking traffic or being nice to other drivers. Large trucks are frequently over- loaded to the hilt. Many trucks are underpowered; it causes large backups on two lane roadways. Most trucks stick to a maximum speed of 80 kph. Many truck drivers do pull over to the side to let vehicles pass; a quick toot of the horn lets them know their gesture was appreciated.

In Thailand, truck maintenance is generally poor. Many trucking companies pay off authorities to turn a blind eye. Run-away truck tires can pose a deadly hazard.

so often sweeping "cultural" statements are made about "Thai driving" as if they are genuine assessments of road safety -

"Slow Thai drivers sometimes create deadly road conditions by forcing other drivers to pass them on the left." - this is a good example of misinterpretation of the actual situation - it isn't actually "slow" drivers per se - that is a purely subjective assessment; what is really happening here is a dangerous speed differentiation occurring on particular roads. This is a common problem in countries with a poorly developed road/traffic system.

"most Thai drivers don't strive to be considerate to others." - this again is a cultural assessment of what is going on....many foreign drivers actually don't understand the rules of priority in Thailand and how they operate.

"Thais mainly ignore other drivers to avoid confrontation" - again just using a catchphrase to explain away a lack of real understanding of what is happening. In general this poster is complaining because Thai roads don't operate how he/she feels they should - i.e. in the same way as back home.

again with trucks - I think this poster is relying solely on personal, anecdotal observation tand hoping to apply this as a scientific point....its not - its anecdote and the plural of anecdote is not data.

One real problem with commercial traffic is again the huge differentiation between vehicles used - from the latest semis to the ancient and rudimentary 6 wheelers - the "hoc lors".

Anyone who has driven around Thailand will see the huge number of vehicle checking stations - but their effectiveness is compromised; this again underlines one all pervading problem of Thai sociey and therefore road safety - that of institutionalised bribery, corruption incompetence and inconsistency of enforcement.

one might also ask ewhy one doesn't see many foreign trucks plying the roads of Thailand - especially Laos or Malaysian vehicles......

Edited March 30, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[seedy]

Numerous posts edited for font size

Please use the same size as the other posts - Thank You

[Hans vliege]

Just 3 things,

Many roads are terrible, with big holes and also without light in the evening.

Thai people drive more than terrible, the most of them shout not have a drivers licence

Thai people go on the road when they are not capable to drive because they drink to much,to much, to much!

[Langsuan Man]

Vehicles, whether they be motorcycles, cars, trucks, busses are the great equalizers here in Thailand

Makes no difference who your family is, who you are related to, who you are married to, nothing matters since you are now equal to everyone else on the road so for the first time in your life you are "equal" to everyone else and are not about to be burdened with that elusive thing called common sense

There is no punishment for putting some elses life in danger, there is not even any scorn on the part of other drivers, it is all the mai pen rai attitude that permeates the society

Pass on the left at the light so you can go through first; the other drivers will enable you and allow you to come back in lane. Get in someones line of sight at a U turn so that they can't see because you don't want to be in back and there will be nothing done

In a me first society, not everyone can be first, but they haven't realized that yet

[chonburimaster]

Said it before, saying it again. There aren't more dangerous drivers in Thailand than in other countries, there are more dangerous drivers that are allowed to drive.

So doesn't it mean that there are more dangerous drivers on the road driving than other countries?

[Ace of Pop]

Just "Fit In" and stop bleating, nothing will change.Its not that bad.

[NangrongJ]

The 5 E's, is a successful formula but what hasn't been stated is that different countries have different proportions. The worlds leading road safety countries are known as the SUN countries (Sweden/UK & Netherlands). Those countries begin with and establish road safety by education. Some countries that are relatively successful, or have made significant progress have done so initially by enforcement. Basically, the initiative that have been played with in Thailand have been a weak form of education. Every country is different so the approach must be different. In some counties we begin with Education but in Thailand, the priority is Enforcement. There is no point in spending masses amount of time and money on Education and Engineering as Enforcement is very weak. We can elaborate on all of the E's in great depth and detail, and it has been explained well above. An additional point would be the controlling of advertising, including subliminal advertising. I see reputable motor manufacturers with adverts on TV showing dangerous acts of driving. These would be banned in UK. We also see actors driving recklessly (not part of the plot), not wearing seatbelts etc. In the UK 'soaps' such as Coronation Street have been used to promote road safety. I was involved in one of them over 15 years ago regarding professional driving lessons.

I have lectured on road safety and driver training matters in many countries, and presently work in this field in the Middle East. I have written many articles on the said subject in newspapers and magazines, in many countries. I have offered my services here but not even received the dignity of a response. I get asked to go to many countries yet here in my home there is no interest. We have to understand there is no culture of safety here be it road safety, HSE or even marine safety. We are now learning about flight safety being serious. It takes massive investment and commitment and Thailand, like India and a few others, do not regard it as an investment.

I read here, and in other places the same questions and frustrations. There is no quick fix, road safety is a complex subject. Thailand has been offered help by UN/WHO but declined as it requires audit and monitoring and they refused.

Edited March 31, 2015 by NangrongJ

[AlQaholic]

It is very good article (the link). Also one should keep in mind as WHO has also noted somewhere....There is a very direct correlation between number of road accidents/deaths and the relative development of a country as one can easily see from statistics around the world.

What is worrying is that the accidents seem to increase rather than decrease in Thailand and there is a disturbing tendency for the Thai govt. to try to confuse the actual figures by various methods.

[T_Dog]

I shake my head every day at how people drive here. Going north of Mae Rim north of Chiang Mai yesterday I had a car behind me for quite a ways. When I pulled right to pass slower traffic using the fast lane, the car behind me proceeds to cross the double yellow into the oncoming lanes to pass myself and the slower traffic to the left. So three cars abreast. Very dangerous for all concerned. Two kilometers later, the overtaking car turns off the highway. Time and time again I see dangerous overtaking with turn off minutes later. It makes no sense.

[nabbie]

Especially the roads routing to the schools/the universities should be the priority.

[Pinot]

"With supreme caution and cultural knowledge, driving in Thailand can be a pleasurable and rewarding experience."

Maybe we have different concepts of what constitutes "pleasurable and rewarding".

Edited March 31, 2015 by Pinot

[DavisH]

Given that the majority of deaths are bike riders, this is where is should all start. Strict enforcement of wearing proper helmets, strict licencing procedures, strict enforcement of all road rules. For whatever reason, police are simply not all that bothered, unless they can scam a few baht. It seems police only enforce laws at particular check points. I've never seen a policeman of the street randomly book someone who didn't have a helmet. At least 50% of the riders in Nonthaburi don't seem to wear helmets, and that figure is much higher in coutry areas. I guess bike riders are poor so noone really cares. If hi-so benz drivers were being killed in their hundreds, something would be done about it.

[GlutinousMaximus]

None of it will change until and unless organised measures to curb the carnage come from the top.

There is a strong Darwinian selection pressure at work on the roads here. Within 50 years, only Thai dogs that have road-crossing smarts will be alive to pass on their genes, the rest will all be wiped out within a very rapid evolutionary timeframe.

Similarly, a certain optimal driving style in humans will mean a higher chance of passing on your genes. I'm not sure what that style is - I'm still trying to work it out on a daily basis!

[mmh8]

i could wax lyrical, however, it is a lot more simple than indifference to personal safety, indifference to others safety, lack of respect for any other road users, lack of respect for anyone - debatable point about except for monks and elephants-

it ignorance , plain and simple.

Thai road users is just ignorant.

edit if anyone interested in my long term project for road safety education it will be a video to the sound track of gangnam style,

the chorus will be Thai style and the video will involve a lot of families on motorbikes children grandparents mum dad and sisters all on the same one, deciding they have priority when they turn onto a main road, cross lanes to turn right, decide on counter current driving, pull into middle of lane in arbitrary lane change with 50 ton truck doing 60 kmh faster than them etc all recorded from my dash cam

at the end with will have 'driving thai style ' final lyric with dancing families and flashes to roadkill people with no sense of, just no sense of with splattered brain bits, limbs everywhere,

then the serious message - use a little bit of your brain, but not to spread on the road, followed by a cartoon hand of someone slapping the head of motorists when they do some fuc I mean thai style driving

this is my idea and the copyright belongs to me as recorded here on this website.

Edited March 31, 2015 by mmh8

[redandyellow]

"With supreme caution and cultural knowledge, driving in Thailand can be a pleasurable and rewarding experience."

Maybe we have different concepts of what constitutes "pleasurable and rewarding".

For example, when you are turning right in LOS, check again, as someone will pass you on the wrong side at the last second. On highways, the gaps are smaller than back home, but I never stay with the pack long..always constantly adjusting, unlike at home..

Lots of expats will come on these sorts of threads and say they have driven all over LOS for X amount of time and it's quite safe. Ya, Ya, until it ain't.

My wife's Thai family was lauding me for driving from one end of Thailand to the other, but I don't rest on my laurels. It's okay out there until it isn't and that's only a matter of time in the LOS.